Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 607 Want to rely on Song Jiang without surrendering?

Banquet at Yanshan Village.

Time crawled slowly in the deathly darkness.

It was already past midnight, but none of the people left behind in the village were able to sleep; the air was thick with an overwhelming sense of anxiety.

The elderly, women, children, the injured, and the sick gathered around the campfire like a flock of frightened sheep, the firelight illuminating their faces filled with unease.

Whispers, like the buzzing of mosquitoes, coalesced into a suffocating hum:
"The chieftain and the others have been gone for so long, and there hasn't been a single trace of them... Song Yingxiong and the others went to the south to ambush, and it's been several hours already? Why is there still no news? Heavens, what is the outcome... good or bad?"

An elderly woman with gray hair tightly hugged her grandson, her voice trembling with tears.

"There are only old bones and sickly people left in the village. If the soldiers really come up here, what can we use to stop them?"

A man with a cane and blood-soaked bandages wrapped around his leg was anxiously jabbing the ground with his cane.

"Just now... just now there seemed to be shouts of battle and booming sounds from the south, it gave me the creeps! But now... why is there no sound at all? It's so quiet... so quiet it's chilling!"

A younger woman stood with her arms crossed, her body trembling slightly, as if the silence itself were a ferocious beast.

"Sigh... I really don't know whether those who chose to leave were right, or whether those of us who stayed... were right?"

A thin, scholar-like middle-aged man sighed, his gaze blankly fixed on the direction of the village gate.

……

The murmurs gradually subsided, eventually being swallowed by a heavy silence.

The night was eerily silent; even the wind had vanished, leaving only the crackling of the campfire and the heavy, suppressed breathing of the people.

This excessive silence, like a cold hand, gripped everyone's throat, bringing a deep-seated sense of oppression and fear.

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night for Yanshan Village.

Yanshan Village suddenly split up; Yin Leiling took a group of people with him, and Song Jiang took another group with him.

This division had already caused widespread anxiety in Yanshan Village.

The internal cracks of disintegration have not yet been healed, while the sharp blades of external government troops are already hanging overhead.

Everyone who remained behind was filled with unprecedented confusion and deep-seated fear about their fate and the future of the village in this boundless darkness and silence.

It felt as if the ground beneath their feet might collapse at any moment, swallowing them up along with their last refuge.

"Bang—bang bang bang!!!"

The sound of the gong, piercing the deathly silence, exploded like thunder from the watchtower at the village gate!
Immediately afterwards, the sentry's hoarse, distorted scream tore through the night sky:

"East! The mountain path to the east! A large group of people is coming!!"

"Grab your weapons! Quickly, grab your weapons! Close the gates! Everyone, get up on the walls!"

"It's an enemy attack! An enemy attack!!!"

This desperate shout was like cold water poured into boiling oil, instantly igniting the entire mountain stronghold!

The brief silence was broken, replaced by terrified screams, frantic running, and the slamming sound of a heavy wooden door closing!

"Bang!"

"Crench!"

The massive latches on the front and back doors were frantically slammed shut with a thud that sent chills down your spine.

The elderly, women, and children were terrified by this sudden turn of events, and the children's cries rang out sharply.

The men gritted their teeth, grabbed whatever weapons they could find, and staggered, supporting each other, towards the stockade walls and their makeshift defensive positions.

Sweat instantly soaked through their thin clothes, their knuckles turned white from gripping their weapons with excessive force, and their hearts pounded violently in their chests like drums.

"Who exactly... are they? Are they government troops who have come to attack, or... have Song Yingxiong and the others returned?"

Someone asked in a trembling voice, with the last glimmer of hope.

"Dream on! Song Yingxiong led his men south! The east is the path Yin Chieftain and his men took down the mountain!"

The person next to him growled desperately, his eyes fixed on the dark mountain path outside the village.

"It's over...it's all over! How can we defend with just a few of us?"

Fear spread like a plague, and despair enveloped everyone.

The mountain path to the east is the vital passage connecting Yanshan Village to the outside world.

Although the road is winding, it is relatively wide and flat, and in the past, merchants and carriages could pass through it.

Just a few hours ago, Yin Leiling and the group he took with him disappeared into the darkness below the mountain along this very road.

At that moment, the darkness seemed to come alive.

Like a tidal wave bursting its banks, shadowy figures surged up from below the mountain path in a dark, overwhelming manner!

There were many people moving around.

However, the formation was chaotic and disorganized. They stumbled and fell as they ran, and the faint sounds of panting and suppressed cries conveyed an indescribable sense of panic and disarray.

The hearts of those inside the stockade walls are even more chaotic than the shadows outside!
"Brother Xiao Liu! Where is Brother Xiao Liu? He clearly said he would guard the village with us!"

Some people looked around anxiously.

"With Song Yingxiong gone, Brother Xiao Liu is the backbone! If he doesn't speak up, who's in charge? Who's in charge?!"

Panic spread through the crowd.

"Qian Fu! Qian Fu is skilled in martial arts, let him handle this!"

Some people, in their desperation, will try any treatment they can find.

"Looking for Qian Fu? I've been looking for him for ages! That bastard's long gone! Who knows where he ran off to!"

An old man spat angrily.

……

There is no leader!

Fear pushed the already anxious and disillusioned residents to the brink of collapse.

"Archers—here's your command!!!"

On the watchtower, the sentry with the best view had to shout himself hoarse to take on the temporary command responsibility; his voice was shrill with tension.
"Nock the arrow!!!"

"It's too dark! Hold your ground! Wait until they're within thirty paces before firing! Aim your arrows!"

"Everyone else! Logs! Rocks! Juice! Move them all to the wall and get them ready!"

"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!!!"

This desperate command was like a lifeline, giving the chaotic crowd a sliver of direction.

Despite their weak limbs, people gritted their teeth and got to work.

Heavy logs were pushed to the edge of the battlements, and cauldrons filled with foul-smelling molten gold were placed over a fire to heat up. Archers trembled as they drew their bows, and cold arrows were aimed at the "enemy" who was getting closer and closer in the darkness.

"Archers, beware!!"

The sentry's voice rose again, cracking slightly:

"We've advanced thirty zhang!!"

"Hold on!"

"Listen to my command!"

"preparation--"

"Wait! Hold on! Stop it all!!!"

Just as the bowstring was stretched to its limit and about to be released.

The sentry seemed to have seen something unbelievable and suddenly let out a distorted roar!

The arrow is on the bowstring, and the moment of truth is imminent!
If these archers hadn't mostly been elderly villagers with solid skills, managing to control their strength, arrows would have been raining down by now!

"What's wrong? What did you see?!"

Someone shouted in surprise and uncertainty from below the stockade wall.

The sentry lay prone at the top of the barricade, rubbing his eyes frantically, craning his neck to stare intently at the approaching, disheveled figures, his voice filled with disbelief:
"Okay...it seems like..."

"They seem to be the brothers who came down the mountain with Chief Yin before?!"

This news came like a bolt from the blue, causing an uproar among those who stayed behind!

"what?!"

"This...how is this possible?!"

Those who stayed behind found it unbelievable.

At that moment, even clearer and more desperate cries came from outside the stockade walls, filled with sobs and despair:
"Don't shoot arrows! Don't fire arrows! They're on our side! We're on our side!!"

"Open the gate! Please, please open the gate!!!"

"Soldiers! Soldiers are chasing us! So many brothers have died! Open the gate and let us in!!!"

……

These heart-wrenching cries did not reassure the villagers; instead, they fueled their suspicions!
Yin Leiling's men had clearly already gone down the mountain, so why were they returning in such a disheveled state in the middle of the night?
Soldiers in pursuit? Is it true or false?
Could they be soldiers in disguise?
Or... they have already been captured by the government troops and are now coming back to trick their way into opening the gate?

On the battlefield, deception and treachery abound, and any kind of trickery can occur!
"Where is Chief Yin?! Have you seen Chief Yin?!"

Someone on the stockade wall shouted angrily at the watchtower.

If Yin Leiling personally knocks on the door, then there's nothing more to say.

If it were someone else...

The sentry widened his eyes again, frantically searching through the chaotic, running figures and flickering firelight, before finally shaking his head in dejection:

"I...I didn't see the chieftain!"

In the darkness, shadowy figures flickered.

If it were someone with Yin Leiling's temper, she would have already shouted loudly.

"Be careful, it might be a trap!!"

"The gate must not be opened!!"

"Even the chieftain has vanished without a trace! Who knows if those outside are people or ghosts! Close the gate! Guard it well!!"

……

The instinct for survival overwhelmed all sentimentality.

Faced with a dire situation where they could barely survive, those who remained had no choice but to prioritize their own well-being.

At this tense stalemate—

A white figure, like a tattered kite blown by a gale, suddenly leaped into the high stockade from outside the wall in an almost disheveled manner!

Although his movements were superb, he staggered and lost his balance when he landed, stomping heavily on the open ground inside the village with a dull thud.

"Who?!"

"stop!!"

In an instant, several arrows and a few swords and spears were aimed at the uninvited guest!
When the flickering firelight illuminated that thin face, covered in dust and blood, yet still recognizable.

Everyone gasped in shock:
"Mr. Bai?!"

The newcomer was none other than Bai Yi, the strategist who held the third-highest position in Yanshan Village, known as the "White-Robed Scholar"!
However, at this moment, where was even a trace of his usual refined and composed demeanor?

That iconic white shirt was now filthy, soaked in dark red bloodstains, mud, and sweat, making it almost impossible to discern its original color.

Beneath several obvious tears in the clothing, the rolled-up skin and flesh were faintly visible.

His face was ashen, his lips were cracked, and his chest heaved violently. He even stumbled when he landed, and would have fallen if he hadn't caught himself with something in his hand.

He instinctively reached for the folding fan he never parted with, only to find that most of the fan ribs were broken, and the remaining fan surface was shattered by a sharp weapon, just like his current disheveled state of mind.

Bai Yi, panting, his gaze sharp as lightning, swept quickly over the surrounding crowd who looked as if facing a formidable enemy. His voice was hoarse but carried an undeniable command:
"Open...open the gate!"

"Outside... are all our own brothers!"

"We...we were ambushed by government troops on our way down the mountain...we barely managed to escape..."

He had to stop and catch his breath every few words, clearly exhausted from his injuries and the struggle to escape.

After he finished speaking, he subconsciously licked his chapped lips and staggered toward looking for water.

However, he stopped abruptly after taking just one step.

He was astonished to find that not a single person in the village had moved!
Everyone froze in place, looking at him with complicated expressions, full of doubt and hesitation.

Even... a barely perceptible resistance.

Bai Yi's sharp gaze suddenly swept over the nearest minor leader. The leader felt a chill run down his spine under Bai Yi's gaze and finally couldn't help but murmur, his voice barely audible.

"Mr. Bai... this matter... should we..."

"Wait until Song Yingxiong returns... ask him... before making a decision?"

These words undoubtedly ignited the fear, anger, and humiliation that had been building up in Bai Yi's heart!

"Screw you, you son of a bitch!!!"

This "white-robed scholar," known for his wisdom and demeanor, was forced to utter such vulgarities!

His eyes were bloodshot, and the agitation aggravated his wounds, causing his lips to twitch in pain, yet he still roared:
"If you don't open the door, our brothers outside will be slaughtered by the soldiers!!"

"Open the gates of the stronghold right now! Immediately!!"

He suddenly straightened his body, and a powerful aura and cold killing intent belonging to a peak fourth-grade martial artist suddenly erupted!
The tattered folding fan creaked as he gripped it.
"Anyone who dares to utter another word... I'll kill him right now!!"

This blatant threat of death, coupled with Bai Yi's accumulated prestige over the years, finally broke down the last hesitation of those who remained.

Faced with a peak fourth-rank expert on the verge of madness, this group of old, weak, sick and disabled people were indeed powerless to resist.

"Quick...open the door!"

Someone shouted in a trembling voice.

The heavy latch was lifted with great effort.

"Creak—Clang!"

The gate of the village finally opened slowly, just a crack.

The crowd that had been waiting anxiously outside the door surged in like a burst dam, crying, pushing, and stumbling!

Throughout the entire process, the remaining defenders were on tenterhooks, their palms sweating as they gripped their weapons, their eyes fixed on every figure that surged in, fearing that a gleaming blade or spear would pierce through them at any moment.

Good luck!

Those who poured in were indeed familiar faces—their own brothers who had once fought side by side but were now in a sorry state!
As the last man scrambled through the gate, the massive bolt slammed shut once more, shutting out the darkness outside.

In the darkness in the distance.

The pursuing soldiers swayed a few times in the torchlight, seemingly surprised that the gate had suddenly closed.

They lingered for a moment, probably unsure of the true situation within the village, and finally, at a command, they vanished swiftly into the darkness of the mountain path they had come from, like the receding tide.

Until the soldiers' firelight completely disappeared from sight, everyone inside and outside the stockade walls, as if exhausted, let out a long, writhing breath.

As soon as his tense nerves relaxed slightly, countless questions flooded Bai Yi, who was being supported by the crowd:
"Mr. Bai! What happened? How come the brothers... how come they all came back? And why are they in this state?"

"Where is Chief Yin? Where is he? Why didn't he come back with you?"

"Yeah! There are so many brothers back! How come... how come only so few people came back? Where are the others?!"

……

Faced with a barrage of questions, Bai Yi simply slumped to the ground, leaning against the cold village wall.

He closed his eyes tightly, as if he had exhausted all his strength and didn't want to say another word.

His face was covered in blood and dust mixed with sweat, making him look incredibly pitiful.

On the contrary, those who had fled back in shock found an outlet for their pent-up emotions, and began to cry out their stories, their voices filled with fear and sorrow:

"The soldiers...the soldiers arrived too quickly! They're everywhere! Mr. Bai calculated that they would arrive in three days, but who knew they...they ambushed us tonight on the only way down the mountain!"

A man pounded the ground and wailed loudly:
"My father... my father died right before my eyes!"

A young man covered his face and sobbed uncontrollably.
"Soldiers were everywhere! No matter where we ran, there were swords, spears, and arrows waiting for us! The arrows... the arrows rained down like a storm, they never stopped! My brother... to protect my sister-in-law... was... was shot into a pincushion..."

A burly man covered in blood choked back tears: "It was the chieftain! It was the chieftain who risked his life to save us!"

"He...he used a great deal of internal energy to forcefully carve out a bloody path...but he himself...was targeted by that eagle-clawed soldier in the official robes! When I escaped...I saw the chieftain...he...he was already...at a disadvantage..."

His voice grew softer and softer, filled with despair.

A man with a leg injury, being supported by others, had fear in his eyes:
"I was at the very back... I could see the best!"

"The chieftain... he's lost! That henchman of the imperial court... his martial arts are terrifyingly high! He... he captured the chieftain alive!!"

The last few words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer!
"Waaaaah... The chieftain... has been captured!"

The cries of grief and despair echoed throughout the village, merging into a heartbreaking lament.

The elderly and infirm who remained behind were stunned and their hands and feet turned cold as they listened to this bloody account!
Song Jiang's words actually came true!

The officers and soldiers really did arrive ahead of time!
Chief Yin and his men were indeed ambushed and suffered heavy losses; even their chief was captured alive!

A strong sense of lingering fear and relief washed over the hearts of everyone who remained behind, like an icy stream.

fortunately!

Thankfully, I chose to stay tonight!
If they had followed them down the mountain, given their age, weakness, and disability, they would probably have already become the victims of the soldiers' horses, their bodies left to rot in the wilderness!

At this moment, the people who remained behind looked at Bai Yi and couldn't help but shake their heads inwardly.

Song Yingxiong had told him long ago that the government troops would arrive faster than expected.

But Bai Yi wouldn't listen, which led to such heavy losses for the brothers in the village.

At this time.

Bai Yi, who had been sitting silently and slumped over, seemed to have finally caught his breath.

He struggled and, with the help of others, slowly stood up.

As he stood up, all eyes were drawn to him as if by a magnet.

At this moment, he was undoubtedly the person with the highest status and the most authority in this dilapidated mountain stronghold.

Bai Yi surveyed the devastated mountain stronghold and the terrified, desperate, and helpless faces around him. A bitter, agonizing smile appeared on his face, and his voice was heavy and hoarse:
"Brothers...it's too late to hide it now. We...we're afraid we have to prepare to...surrender."

These words were like pouring cold water into boiling oil, instantly causing an uproar!

"what?!"

"surrender?!"

The crowd looked at each other, their faces filled with disbelief and resistance.

Bai Yi struggled to raise his hand, silencing the clamor of voices, his eyes weary and filled with despair:
"This time, the officers and soldiers are no ordinary force. As far as I know, the force that ambushed us tonight is only one of the three armies!"

"We...we couldn't even hold off one of them, and were beaten so badly...how can we possibly withstand the other two fierce and powerful armies?"

"Moreover... if I'm not mistaken, by now, the other two armies have probably already arrived at the southern and western slopes of Yanshan Mountain..."

He took a deep breath and uttered a breathtaking conclusion:

"The entire Yanshan Mountain... has been completely surrounded by government troops! We... are like turtles in a jar, with no way to escape!"

"Continue to resist... and you'll only face death! You'll be reduced to ashes!"

"Only...only by surrendering can we perhaps...save a chance for the old, weak, women and children in the village, and for the remaining brothers!"

Bai Yi's words were like a cold verdict, plunging the entire Yanshan Village into a deathly silence.

Those who escaped knew this was a cruel reality, while those who stayed behind were completely crushed by the desperate situation of being surrounded from three directions, losing their last glimmer of hope.

Despair, like a thick, tangible fog, enveloped every corner.

Bai Yi looked at the ashen faces of everyone and sighed deeply, his voice filled with endless sorrow:
"I will... personally negotiate with the officers and soldiers' commander. I will risk my life to fight for the best possible conditions for my brothers..."

"But...but after tonight..."

He looked around the mountain village where he had lived for many years, and for the first time, tears welled up in his eyes, his voice choked with emotion:
"This Yanshan stronghold... is probably... about to completely... cease to exist..."

This tragic verdict completely shattered the psychological defenses of many who had fled back.

The suppressed sobs erupted again, even more heart-wrenching than before.

however.

Amidst this desperate lamentation, a voice, tinged with hesitation and a last glimmer of hope, weakly rose from the ranks of those who remained:

"Mr. Bai...should we...discuss this matter with Song Yingxiong?"

The name was like a red-hot needle, piercing Bai Yi's taut nerves!

"Song Jiang! Song Jiang!!"

He whirled around, his eyes blazing with fury, trembling with excitement, and roared as he pointed towards the source of the sound:

"Discuss with Song Jiang?! Discuss what?! Discuss how to repel the government troops?!?"

"Open your eyes and look! Look at this village full of wounded soldiers! Look at these ruins! Look at the fate of Chief Yin!!"

He pointed to the pitch-black night outside the village gate, his voice sharp with extreme frustration.

His chest heaved violently, clearly indicating that he was on the verge of losing control of his emotions.

The dire situation had truly driven Bai Yi to the brink of agitation, and he could no longer control his emotions.

He's usually a very polite and well-mannered person, but today he's been getting angry one after another.

But in the end, he suppressed his churning blood and gasped for breath. His gaze swept over the noticeably sparse number of able-bodied young men around him, and he belatedly realized with surprise:
"Where is Song Jiang...?"

"Why are you all the only ones left in the village? Where did everyone else go?!"

Someone answered cautiously:
"Song Yingxiong... has led his men to the south... to ambush the government troops..."

Bai Yi's pupils suddenly contracted:
"He... he actually anticipated that the government troops would come tonight?"

A flicker of shock crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper sense of dejection:
"That's it... the eagle must have foreseen it beforehand... but... the three-pronged encirclement is already complete... no matter how miraculous the eagle is... what can it do?"

Bai Yi could roughly guess that the officers and soldiers had probably also guessed the factor of the Divine Eagle.

So their three armies took advantage of the night to encircle the enemy from three directions. By the time the Divine Eagle discovered them, the encirclement was already complete, and there was nothing they could do.

After all, the commander of the troops this time is certainly not a simple person.

Bai Yi thought he had the whole situation under control, but his confidence was shattered instantly when the ambush at the foot of the mountain occurred.

He was already very clear that his opponent was someone even more shrewd and far-sighted than himself.

at this time.

Among those who remained, someone else weakly said:
"Since Hero Song was able to predict the soldiers' return tonight, that's something even... Mr. Bai, you didn't foresee. So..."

"Then perhaps, Song Yingxiong can also... lead us to accomplish... accomplish... what others cannot accomplish."

Bai Yi was surprised that someone would mention Song Jiang again.

Especially since they used Song Jiang to suppress their own prestige!

This made him look up and glare fiercely at the speaker.

But upon closer inspection, Bai Yi discovered that among those who chose to stay, it seemed that more and more people were eager to challenge his authority!

Because they have powerful backers, like Song Jiang!
The only thing that can save the bandit gang right now is his silver tongue.

And why do these fools still think they can rely on Song Jiang?

Song Jiang doesn't have three heads and six arms!

This enraged Bai Yi even more, and he couldn't help but roar:
"What is Song Jiang anyway?! Even if he luckily guessed that the government troops were coming tonight, so what?!"

"What use are all those men he took with him, plus himself?! This time, the government troops have countless top-notch fighters! How many can he fight alone?!"

Bai Yi completely lost control of his emotions. The fear, embarrassment, regret for misjudgment, and jealousy of Song Jiang's prestige accumulated over the past few days erupted at this moment:

"I'm telling you! Song Jiang is right now—"

"They've probably already been chopped into mincemeat by the soldiers! Or like the chieftain, they're prisoners now!!"

"Go talk to him?! Go talk to him about how to report to the underworld?!"

This vicious and desperate roar pierced everyone's hearts like an icicle.

Those who remained behind turned pale, and even the weeping escapees were momentarily stunned, forgetting their grief.

Could it be... just as Bai Yi said, that even Song Jiang is unable to turn the tide of the battle this time?

Are the officers and soldiers really so powerful that they are invincible?!

Everyone's heart sank deeper and deeper...

however--

In this moment filled with despair!

From the southern foot of Yanshan Mountain, a loud commotion suddenly arose, growing louder and clearer as it approached!
Immediately afterwards, a group of shadowy figures appeared on the road leading to the mountain stronghold!

A deafening roar, brimming with ecstatic joy, exploded like thunder across the silent mountain village, instantly shattering all the gloom of despair:

"A resounding victory! A resounding victory—!!!"

The voice was filled with the excitement of surviving a disaster and unparalleled exhilaration!
In this desolate Yanshan Mountain, it stands out so abruptly, so...shockingly!
(End of this chapter)